Kirby and the Rainbow Curse

Cuddly cute, surprisingly, outrageously fun and best of all ­ minimally flawed.

The game fails to show its beauty from the small screen of the GamePad, forcing the player in the role of Kirby to lose part of an otherwise fascinating game. A partial success, then, that it stands on its own due to the increasingly high quality and cleanliness of Nintendo's games.

In classic Nintendo Style, what we have here is a beautiful game filled with addictive challenges, great gameplay and ideal co-op mode.

Guiding Kirby around each world in Kirby and the Rainbow Paintbrush is a true delight thanks to fluid controls, innovative gameplay and magnificent audio and visual presentation.

Another case of Ninty spinning endless invention from the simplest of ideas. Well worth a play(doh). [June 2015, p.72]

Expectations are always high when one of Nintendo’s mascots is featured in a new game. Unfortunately Kirby and the Rainbow Paintbrush fails to live up to the expectations, due to some tortuous control mechanics. The graphics are colorful and cute, but gets overshadowed by the mechanics that doesn’t seem to be properly thought through.

In an attempt to prove the viability of the GamePad touchscreen as a primary input device, Nintendo accidentally created an inferior sequel to a decade-old DS puzzler. Kirby and the Rainbow Paintbrush squanders much of its potential and achingly beautiful visuals, functional but lacking in lasting fun.

This new Kirby makes us fall in love with his new graphics and it's funny to play, totally focused on the Wii U Gamepad, but it loses steam at the middle and runs out of freshness.

The concept is not as fascinating as it was ten years ago, but nonetheless Kirby still is a source of creativity. The clay’ish artdesign is as cute and cuddly as its star. The inclusion of the precise touchscreen controls is a perfect example for the capabilities of Wii U. Unfortunately Kirby’s excursion is rather short.

Kirby and the Rainbow Curse is one of the most refreshing games since the Wii U has launched. It's hard to not get frustrated though by the lack of gamble from a gameplay point of view, by a certain lack of pace. And last but not least, it's a shame we have to look so much at the GamePad screen.

It’s simply a beautiful looking game, which offers several hours in the main mode and even more in the challenge mode. As a budget release, there’s enough content here to justify it, though perhaps not quite enough difficulty for platforming aficionados.

This is an excellent debut for Kirby on the Wii U. Imaginative and joyful adventures for the Nintendo's console.

Kirby and the Rainbow Curse is an awesome looking game, with few major issues. The control system is great for an handheld console, but playing at home a gamer is supposed to be interested in watching the TV panel, instead of the tiny GamePad screen. The linear level design and the lack of variety, ruin this colorful experience.

The concept has lost the original feeling that the previous episode had, but still is an interesting platformer with a twist that deserves a try.

Kirby and the Rainbow Curse is a platform game that runs away from standards to offer some very interesting mechanics, but, at the same time, it feels strange, like a portable game stuck in the pad of a home console.

Funny, adorable, visually breathtaking, this new Kirby maybe comes with an element most of the fans will not like it, like the idea of moving it through scenarios using a paintbrush and no jumping or something. But, although the control system is not the best, certainly the levels are so well designed, the collectibles numerous and the graphics and soundtrack so good, that it deserves at least one try. One of those 100% Nintendo Games that only want you to have fun and smile. And Paintbrush got it.

Overshadowed by the games that inspired it. [Issue#160, p.99]

HAL Laboratory didn't manage to remodel platforming with this magnificent, yet superficial facelift made of clay. But Rainbow Curse succeeds in combining the tactile approach of the brush and Kirby's traditional gameplay design through the cooperative multiplayer, thus adding a new tone to the already colorful palette of the series.

It's a real treat to examine the craftsmanship of the models in close-up, while the soundtrack is one of Kirby's best to date. [May 2015, p.120]

Kirby and the Rainbow Course shows what happens when you have a good idea but you don't know how to keep it fresh and engaging for a few hours. Not to mention the beautiful visuals completely wasted on a standard definition GamePad screen.

It's an interesting way to reimagine platforming, but it doesn't have the courage or the lasting appeal of other recent Nintendo's titles. It's still fun, and sometimes engaging, but the slow pace is something you'll surely notice.

On the whole, Rainbow Curse is an inventive, charming game that does a wonderful job of living up to the legacy of Canvas Curse. [Issue #14: Old vs. New – March/April 2015, p.73]

Secretly we would have liked a more conventional Kirby platformer, although this one definitely is entertaining. The controls are not precise enough to draw good lines for Kirby, but the game makes us feel upbeat and there is lots to explore (single-player and co-op).

Kirby's most characteristic skill has been taken away from him, which does not do this game any good. Plus, the beautiful art style and music are not really coming to live on Wii U GamePad. As most Kirby-games, this one is still entertaining and easy accessible, but it could have been much more.

With memorable, meaningful levels that cleverly utilise the game’s simple dynamic with aplomb, it’s wonderful, joyous stuff; cute, clever and charming. And unlike other Kirby games, it’s actually challenging.

Massively cute it may be, but this is a Kirby title that packs substance to go along with its drop dead gorgeous style.

Colorful, fun and addictive - new Kirby title offers not only a captivating visual setting, but also a great gameplay.

Kirby and the Rainbow Curse is another good reason to have a Wii U in your living room. The small world of clay created by Hal Laboratory is wonderful to explore and fun to play.

When it focuses on the classic platform elements, Kirby and the Rainbow Curse shines brightly. It's a pity it often tries to change itself into something less exciting.

It's fun and accessible, but doesn't offer enough substance to serve as anything more than fodder for a few lazy Sunday afternoons.

A tepid sequel to Kirby And The Power Paintbrush, that even with its short running time barely manages to stretch it’s small collection of ideas across a whole game.

Gets several points right, especially its artwork and visual environment. There’s a lot of content to unlock and its difficulty curve is balanced enough. Where it fails is on providing a more captivating gameplay, as the game forces the players to constantly look down to their GamePads, wasting time in the process.

This Kirby game looks amazing and for kids it is fun to give them the feeling that they can paint and play at the same time. However it's annoying to use the stylus through he whole game. So therefore it's a bit disappointing.

Singular gameplay, original art style, very well designed levels, amiibo, multiplayer, memorable soundtrack and a huge number of collectables. Kirby and the Rainbow Curse is a must.

As with many other series in Nintendo’s stable, the game’s difficulty rapidly scales from level to level with the inclusion of optional pathways capable of putting more seasoned gamers through their paces. Indeed, as a friend of mine more or less said, “At first you think that ‘Hi!’ at the beginning means the game is for babies. Then you realize the game will make you cry like a baby.”

The Rainbow Curse simply doesn’t measure up to other Kirby games and other Nintendo games. It’s a case of control-scheme innovation gone just a little too wild and while the game is fun in its earliest stages, a blend of boredom and frustration can easily set in as the action wears on.

An excellent debut for Kirby on the Wii U, Kirby and the Rainbow Curse is amazing to see in motion. Too bad players won't get to do much of that, as spectators get the best seats for this show.

Kirby and the Rainbow Curse is still a thing of beauty, lovely to look at and challenging (but not punitive) in play. In places, you can even see the sculptor’s fingerprints, but you can’t leave any of your own.

Despite its shortcomings, Kirby and the Rainbow Curse offers up an entertaining, albeit a frequently frustrating experience. The game’s rainbow drawing mechanic makes great use of the Wii U’s GamePad but the resulting gameplay unfortunately isn’t always as fun as it could be.

Kirby offers a fantastic experience for the amount of content it provides and the price.

It’s cute, charming, and lots of fun, with enough challenge to stand up on its own right among other platformers.

After the last few willfully easy Kirby games, it's a nice change to see the poor little puffball repeatedly die as you struggle for mastery.

All in all, I can’t deny that Kirby and the Rainbow Curse is a great game.

It certainly isn’t awful, but what strengths it does have only really appeal to the Kirby faithful, or less serious gamers.

Kirby and the Rainbow Curse is a weird and beautiful game, but it's an odd fit for the Wii U.

Much like Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, Kirby and the Rainbow Curse is a constantly creative adventure that offers players something they won’t find anywhere else.

Kirby and the Rainbow Curse was obviously an experimental platformer in every sense of the word, and while some aspects of the experiment completely succeeded (the claymation looks so good), the most important parts fell short of expectations.

Bottom line: If you play only one new Nintendo platformer starring an adorable character, you should definitely pick up Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker. If, however, you have time for two, then get ready to stare directly at your GamePad for Kirby and the Rainbow Curse.

A genuine visual marvel and one of the most beautiful technical achievements on the Wii U.

Kirby and the Rainbow Curse is charming, cute and fun. It takes great advantage of the GamePad’s capabilities and proves to be one the best spin-offs in the Kirby series.

In the end, Rainbow Curse is a good game that provides plenty of content for both single players and a group of friends.

Minor annoyances aside, Kirby and the Rainbow Curse continue’s Kirby’s hot streak of lovable, imaginative, joyful adventures. As shrewd as it is straightforward, HAL’s latest effort provides an afternoon of unassuming fun for a fair price, and no matter how much I try, I just can’t ever over how damn wondrous it looks!

A visually stunning game with clever and varied design, Kirby and the Rainbow Curse is a very welcome addition to the Wii U library, even if its simplistic premise and mechanics eventually get tiresome.

Kirby fans will be delighted by this series entry, especially if they remember Canvas Curse with fondness. Other gamers should definitely give this one a try. It has that good ol' Nintendo quality and sense of playfulness in spades.

Kirby and the Rainbow Curse offers up unique visuals and gameplay, but largely fails to bring them together into a fun game. The colorful world is worth exploring, but only for those that are especially interested in the different nature of the game.

Kirby and the Rainbow Curse is a beautiful, creative, and fun-loving game that absolutely deserves your time and attention.

Kirby and the Rainbow Curse isn’t going to be a game that is mentioned in Game of the Year conversations at the end of the year, but it is a great way to kill some time in a beautifully created world.

Basically, if you were a fan of Canvas Curse, there’s no reason to think you won’t enjoy this sequel. A little bit of the uniqueness is gone, but this is still a fun twist on the traditional sidescroller.

Kirby and the Rainbow Curse has its moments, but is ultimately marred by frustrating controls and questionable game design.

It may not be Kirby’s most triumphant outing, but Rainbow Curse is still an entertaining ride.

A delightfully charming and unique platformer. Its world is varied, its challenge is high, and the hand-molded look and feel make for a remarkable journey.

Don't let Rainbow Curse's relatively small length put you off; it's a sublime experience that completely washes its hands of the padding most games employ to justify a retail release.

Nothing about the gameplay feels broken, it just feels soulless this time around.

Charming the game may be, Rainbow Curse is a few strokes from greatness: overly repetitive mechanics, underused ideas, and a failure to integrate its clay theme into gameplay in any meaningful way keep it from reaching the lofty heights to which it potentially could. Well crafted, but not a masterpiece.

By its very nature, it feels more at home on a handheld. Just in this case, it's a handheld system that's tethered to your living room console.

Bright, colorful worlds brought to life by a unique art style, coupled with challenging, diverse gameplay highlights yet another successful Kirby spin-off that is as good or better in many ways than its predecessor.

I never fully fell in love with only having secondary control of Kirby. Drawing platform lines is undeniably different, but I’m not convinced it’s the best way to play a platformer. Rainbow Curse smartly toys with the mechanic, adding surprising twists and changes, and by the end I was having a good time – even if I still was yelling at Kirby to just do what I told him every now and then.

With a handmade look, and a different approach to platforming, Rainbow Curse is one of Kirby’s strongest spin-offs, and one of the best uses of the Gamepad to date.

It's a game that has a little something for everyone, all without compromising its unyielding, unique, and undivided attention on its mission to blast pure adorableness into the world in all directions. If Kirby and the Rainbow Curse doesn't make you smile, you may need to see a doctor for that.

Kirby and the Rainbow Curse shines because it’s a simple game that delivers superbly on a simple concept. You’re repeating many of the same actions again and again, but with each new stroke it feels more refined, more graceful.